WELLINGTON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods on Tuesday welcomed a new agreement with Europe's largest aeronautics and space company, Airbus, on developing capability in New Zealand's emerging Unmanned Aircraft (UA) and space data technology sectors.

The Letter of Intent, between Airbus and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, sets out a commitment to seek opportunities for Airbus to test and trial its UA technologies in New Zealand, and to work together to support the development and adoption of new and innovative space data technologies and applications.

"Airbus has committed to collaborate on innovation challenges that combine UA and space data technologies. These challenges will generate solutions for real problems, catalyze innovation and increase our R&D capabilities in UAs and space data technologies and applications," Woods said.

"Airbus is an international leader in innovation, with deep knowledge and great access to data and specific technical tools, all things that we can leverage to build our own R&D capabilities," she said.

Airbus is already building strong connections within New Zealand's innovation and space ecosystems, including a recent agreement that establishes the Center of Space Science Technology in Alexandra in the South Island as the primary provider of Airbus satellite data and products in New Zealand, the minister said.